Once again life imitates art with NASA looking to Star Trek for inspiration for their new poster for the final mission of the Space Shuttle Endeavour. Check it out below, plus news on how Space Shuttle Enterprise is preparing to fly again.

The Future Begins (and Ends) for Endeavour

Space Shuttle Mission 134, slated to launch July 29th 2010 will be the final mission for Space Shuttle Endeavour and the second to last mission of the Shuttle program before the fleet is retired later this year. The mission will deliver a number of new components for the International Space Station, including the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (how is that for some Trek sounding tech?). As they do for each Mission, NASA created a special mission poster (primarily used internally) and for STS 134 they were inspired by the latest Star Trek movie, check it out.

Famously NASA’s first space Shuttle prototype was named Enterprise in 1976 after Star Trek fans successfully lobbied NASA. The Shuttle Enterprise was never actually launched into space, but was used for flight tests. The shuttle has been housed at the Smithsonian Institution since 1985. It is currently on display in an annex to the National Air and Space Museum in Chantilly, VA.

Shuttle Enterprise introduced in 1976

As noted before the Space Shuttle fleet is being retired this year. According to CollectSpace, one of the orbiters that has been flown in space is expected to take the place of the Enterprise at the Udvar-Hazy Center annex, so the Enterprise will have to be moved. It has not yet been determined where it will be going, but engineers have been inspecting the Enterprise to make sure it is in ship shape and ready to again be ferried atop a modified 747.

Comments

Nice to see the old Enterprise picture with the TOS cast. One of my fave Trek moments was during the premier of the ST:Enterprise when the credits lead-in showed the Shuttle Enterprise being rolled out of the hanger. Sent chills down my spine…

This is good news (not the retirement of the Space Shuttle fleet) as far as the Shuttle Enterprise goes. Hopefully it will wind up in a historically relevant museum instead of being left moldering like so many other NASA vehicles.

I was 11 when the Enterprise flew (well, glided) and remember it well. My brother-in-law’s uncle was a photographer for the White House at the time and I have two official White House photos of President Regan dedicating her and other of her landing. They hang proudly on the same was as my plates of the Enterprise 1701, 1701-A and 1701-D.

As far as the the retirement of the Shuttle fleet, I think it’s a big mistake to leave the USA without its own way to put humans into space or pick them up from the ISS.

That being said, I was at the first Shuttle launch ever when the Columbia took off on April 12, 1981 and I’ll be at the last with my two boys. Nice bookends to the end of an era of manned space flight.

I actually saw the Columbia fly piggyback around Oklahoma City before it landed at Tinker AFB on the way from California to Florida. I went to the school library on the second story, stood on a bookcase, and plastered myself to the window to get a close-up view. It was a truly amazing sight to see something so large and heavy-looking (Columbia) atop something that looked so fragile (747). AWEsome!

It’s funny, but the Trek banner has a Asian male, an African woman, a Russian male, A Scot male, two american males, and a vulcan male.

The NASA banner has all white (American?) males. Couldn’t they at least put a woman astronaut on the flight for a little diversity? Or even an all women crew? It would have been nice to see that before the shuttle retires.

Yes…I remember the live broadcast of the rollout of that shuttle…Man what memories…I was 10 at that time. I also remember seeing it in flight on top of that modded 747. I had to have the model of that plane and shuttle.

I’m disappointed that the Enterprise is getting replaced at the Smithsonian. I rather liked Shatner’s talking about the irony of fate that although the Enterprise never flew into space, it was the one preserved for posterity as “the shuttle”. Unfortunately, her fate now is probably to be relegated to some out of the way museum, like the Hill AFB museum while the other “real orbiters” get the glory spots.

Frankly, I’d like to see the Smithosonian or Dayton get the whole lot and display all of them together, so you can go to one place and see all of the surviving vehicles of the program.

I still remember watching one of the flight tests on tv. Pretty dramatic the first time she separated from the 747, and glided down to a landing! The Enterprise did her part for the shuttle program even though she never went into space.

They even had her out at Vandenburg AFB once to test out the launch pad there. Too bad they mothballed the idea of west coast shuttle launches, it would have been cool to see them from in front of my house!

In one of the novels set before TMP, Admiral Kirk gets a ride on the old girl, retrofitted to actually go into space with 23rd century propulsion.

Huh. I was wondering what they were doing to Enterprise when I was down at Udvar-Hazy last week. I know a Pad Tech was there (He chatted up a bunch of us before he went to lunch), but he didn’t mention they were planning to move it.

It’s also sad to think that Enterprise might eventually end up back in a warehouse, now.

Does anyone have the sneaking suspicion that NASA has purposefully never flown the Shuttle Enterprise into space as a way to spite Star Trek fans? I mean, they weren’t originally planning on naming it “Enterprise,” so somehow, in the back of my mind, I just have the suspicion that never flying it into space is their way of going “Fine, you want to have it named after your stupid fake ship? Okay, but it’s not going into space, haha! See how you like THAT!”

“During the construction of Columbia, details of the final design changed, particularly with regard to the weight of the fuselage and wings. Refitting Enterprise for spaceflight would have involved dismantling the orbiter and returning the sections to subcontractors across the country. As this was an expensive proposition, it was determined to be less costly to build Challenger around a body frame (STA-099) that had been created as a test article. Similarly, Enterprise was considered for refit to replace Challenger after the latter was destroyed, but Endeavour was built from structural spares instead.”

I had my hopes up at first that this Enterprise was getting a refit and was going to be going into space, but oh well. Seems like, especially if the problem was the current 3 being worn out, that could be a solution so at least we’d have some reliable way to get into space until the government pulls their heads out of their asses about the whole thing. Personally I think we need a new fleet of shuttles, ones that are bigger and can carry more cargo, and of course safer. Doubt they’ll do it, though.

The current shuttles aren’t worn out, they’re just underfunded. A couple of them badly need some replacement internal parts, but they haven’t received them simply because the program is winding down, and it’s not worth the cost.

A glorious era soon comes to a close… NASA will be hitch-hiking for Dollars to the International Space Station – and beyond, courtesy of the Russians (and likely Chinese) in the near future. I wish I could have lived to see a Shuttle launch in person. I envy those folks who did, – not to mention the astronauts.

Rely to #2: The Shuttle Enterprise was “moldering” as you put it. Moldering would be if they decided not to have put the Shuttle on display at all. The Hanger-like building that was designed is one of the largest museums for aviation and has allowed everyone to be able to view the Enterprise. It has been on display for people to view at the new Air and Space Museum Chantilly facilities for nearly five years. Thousands of people have visited and have been able to view the shuttle, including myself. I am saddened that the Enterprise may be leaving our area to go somewhere else. The Endeavor is getting old, but it has been a joy to actually get up close and personal to the Enterprise. Those looking forward to seeing it here in the DC area will miss it. And I do hope that it will be able to be viewed by others in another wonderful location. Though nothing can really replace the Enterprise.

Correction, I meant to say NOT “moldering.” If would be if NO ONE saw it. The Enterprise is being used for EDUCATION purposes by being on display for people. It is part of history’s Aviation as well as part of our history of Space Exploration.

I remember the day the Enterprise flew over my house. It did a low-level flyby of the city before landing at the airport, where it was on display for a few days for an air show. The roar was deafening – it sounded as if it was going to land on the next block. That picture of the Enterprise flying over the houses on my street – albeit with a 747 strapped to it – is one of my favourites.

I’ve always wondered why Bill Shatner doesn’t appear on that cast pic with the Enterprise. Was he even there? If not, this shows complete disrespect. I love M. Shatner but he should have made the effort of attending, unless he had valid reasons of course.

#11 – I’m pretty sure that the shuttle Enterprise “flew” in 1976 or 1977 – I’d take another look at that picture you have. A long story, but I was in junior high school and remember an oil embargo or shortage that year (gas was .95 a gallon and my mom refused to pay!!!)

@14 – STS-131 that launches in April will three women on board: One white, one African-American, and one Japanese., plus four dudes. Is that diverse enough for you?

One thing I love about this poster is that there are at least 2 Trekkers on board. Mike Finck (second from left) actually appeared on Enterprise and Greg Chamitoff (far right) often referenced Trek when he was part of the ISS crew and even took some Trek to watch while he was up there.

Never did care for the look on Pine’s face in that poster. Makes him look like a psycopath! And to see it repeated on the face of a Shuttle astronaut is even more disturbing- remember, in space, nobody can hear you scream!

#21 Lostrod.
I hear you. We need to speak out ASAP, but it may be too late.
The damage has been done. I just cannot understand how people can possibly agree with BO’s arrogant and idiotic decision.
Cool poster though- based on a crappy one.

I remember watching the Enterprise test flights. Sitting with my dad on the old sofa. I was very little. He told me all about it and how one day people were gonna be living in space and on the moon and such. It’ll never happen.

19… There are only four Shuttle Orbiters to go around, so I doubt any of them will end up at out of the way spots. Discovery will certainly go to the SMithsonian. Kennedy Space Center will almost certain keep one, as they have an excellent record with their space artifacts and will have the lowest shipping costs. After that the Air Force Museum in Dayton, Johnson Space Center in Houston, the Intrepid museum in New York, and the Evergreen museum in Oregon (home of Howard Hughes’s Spruce Goose) are considered strong contenders. I personally think Enterprise will go back to NASA Dryden at Edwards AFB and be displayed alongside one of its 747 carrier aircraft.

Anthony… Shuttle Endeavour is spelled with a ‘u’ in it because it is named for one of Captain Cook’s ships (in Queen’s English.)

I WANT to say a few things about this current Administration and how they are screwing up BIG TIME by Discontinuing our space program, but I wont. All I will say is, the Government is making a BIG mistake keeping the US Grounded while other countries have the opportunity of heading to Mars before us. We HAVE to expand out to the stars someday, and in order for us to do so, we HAVE to continue our missions into the Final Frontier. Either we do it with NASA or with private Companies, it does not matter, what matters is that we MUST continue our great journey.

Actually, the “Enterprise” orbiter that is rolled out in the opening credits for ST:E is not the Enterprise. Based on the views, it appears to be Endeavour. They just changed the name on the image. Enterprise never had her name placed forward of the payload bay doors like all the other orbiters did. (Although Columbia did until 1989) If you compare Enterprise to the other space-worthy orbiters, you can also see many differences since she was not fitted with real thermal tiles and the like.
But she does have a place in spaceflight history as the pathfinder for the shuttle program-probably the most amazing machine ever built by humans to date.

When they were contracted, unnamed, Enterprise was OV-101 (OV=Orbiter Vehicle) and Columbia was OV-102. The thing that became Challenger was STA-099 (Static Test Article) and it was one not intended for spaceflight.

“Rockwell’s original $2.6 billion contract had authorized the building of a pair of static-test articles (MPTA-098 and STS-099 and two initial flight-test vehicles (OV-101 and OV-102. A decision in 1978 not to modify Enterprise from her ALT configuration would have left Columbia as the only operational orbiter vehicle so on 1/29/79 NASA awarded Rockwell a supplemental contract to convert Challenger (STA-099) from a test vehicle into a space-rated Orbiter (OV-099).”

Enterprise contained a lot of equipment that was would have been used in orbital missions but had no function as the vehicle was ultimately purposed, such as nearly complete aft flight deck avionics that nobody manned because the atmospheric test flights had only the commander and pilot in the front seats. Much of Enterprise’s equipment ended up on other orbiters.

Enterprise’s chance to replace Challenger was eliminated by what could have been deemed sneaky by budget watchdogs. The “structural spares” used to build Endeavour were essentially a sixth orbiter hidden in Congressional appropriations that appeared to fund five orbiters and spare parts. There was no realistic scenario when these “spares” could be used as such. If an orbiter needed a replacement wing, you needed whole a new orbiter because it didn’t come back. When Challenger didn’t come back, there just happened to be enough “spare” parts to build a whole new vehicle!

Obama’s decision to cancel manned space exploration for the foreseable future is a huge mistake.. No doubt he will get a response not to his liking when he journeys to Florida next month to meet with many of the people his misguided decision will impact. He should reconsider & fund continued shuttle missions until a program such as Direct Launch is ready to replace it.

64… “There was no realistic scenario when these “spares” could be used as such. If an orbiter needed a replacement wing, you needed whole a new orbiter because it didn’t come back.”

As it turned out, that’s true, but the Structural Spares program was also implemented after corrosion problems were discovered on Columbia and it was worried the wings and other components might need to be replaced (a’la the C-5A.) The spares also guarded against an Orbiter being damaged in ferry flight or ground handling. This was pre-Challenger, remember, when NASA was still envisioning 18-24 flights per year. Having spares was part common sense, and part hopes for OV-105. Even so, it still took five years and a boatload of new-built parts to build OV-105 Endeavour after Challenger was lost.

Officially, the President canceled Ares rockets and Orion spacecraft in favor of building new technology to make exploration affordable later on. His plan pays for this by moving routine space operations to the private sector, which history tells us can do the job more cheaply and efficiently. That remains to be proven, but the Ares and Orion on a funding curve and timetable that was pushing first flight toward 2017, we have a lot of time to develop the private sector alternatives, where one rocket is already on the launch pad and a prototype spacecraft already under construction… two claims Ares and Orion cannot make.

65… ” No doubt he will get a response not to his liking when he journeys to Florida next month to meet with many of the people his misguided decision will impact. ”

I doubt that. The President’s meeting with NASA officials and local politicians at Cape Canaveral will be so thoroughly vetted to include only his supporters in the crowd and so far from the general public (and those opposed to his plans) that all he’ll see is “rah, rah, you’re the best!” This is not one of his “town hall meetings.”

65… “He should reconsider & fund continued shuttle missions until a program such as Direct Launch is ready to replace it.”

I think the President will probably add 1-4 Shuttle flights, perhaps through 2011, to appease Florida and Alabama politicians, and Orion might be reinstated as a commercial operation from Lockheed-Martin and United Launch Alliance. But I don’t think DIRECT will be implemented or Ares reinstated.

Bring the Enterprise to the Evergreen Museum!!!
As a trekkie, space geek and engineering student in Oregon, I would LOVE to see the Enterprise sitting right next to Howard Hughes’ Spruce Goose. For those of us without the economic means to travel to the east coast, bringing one of the shuttles to rest on the left coast would make so much sense, and no doubt increase interest/awareness in America’s space program (or lack thereof)
Sorry I’m not lucid enough to construct much of a coherent paragraph, but Bring the Enterprise to Oregon!

Yeah, I wonder if someone were to digitally replace Leonard Nimoy with Zachary Quinto, how many people would NOT notice the switch? A number of people would notice, but many others would probably glance over the photo quickly without a second thought. :-)

#67
That pretty much sums it up. My belief is there will be some sort of compromise. I think Ares will still be axed, as it should be, but I think Orion may be brought back. My favorite alternative is the DIRECT approach and their Jupiter shuttle-derived inline rocket. It is capable of carrying quite a payload.

It is a shame that Bolshevism’s lasting contribution to the West will be the disastrous affect of the unrecognized-but-lethally-effective pseudo-science, Lysenkoism.

Sincerely,
C.S. Lewis

14. MikeTen – March 17, 2010

It’s funny, but the Trek banner has a Asian male, an African woman, a Russian male, A Scot male, two american males, and a vulcan male.

The NASA banner has all white (American?) males. Couldn’t they at least put a woman astronaut on the flight for a little diversity? Or even an all women crew? It would have been nice to see that before the shuttle retires.

Well, there will be a woman (Shannon Walker) on the Space Station when they get there, at least if the current schedule holds (there is talk of a big delay for this launch due to the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer being behind schedue.)

NASA did flirt with the idea of an all-woman crew in the early 2000s. It would probably have had Pam Melroy in command and Susan Still as Pilot. The idea was abandoned after the 2003 Columbia accident. It isn’t possible now because no female pilot-astronauts are still in the astronaut corps.

I remember the test flights of Enterprise and was astounded each time! I was disappointed that they never upgraded her to space flight capable, but I understood why as the cost to do so would have been tremendous.

However, it would have been romantic to have a space ship named “Enterprise”!